title: Optimization of microporous palm shell activated carbon production for flue gas desulphurization: experimental and statistical studies.
abstract: Optimizing the production of microporous activated carbon from waste palm shell was done by applying experimental design methodology. The product, palm shell activated carbon was tested for removal of SO2 gas from flue gas. The activated carbon production was mathematically described as a function of parameters such as flow rate, activation time and activation temperature of carbonization. These parameters were modeled using response surface methodology. The experiments were carried out as a central composite design consisting of 32 experiments. Quadratic models were developed for surface area, total pore volume, and microporosity in term of micropore fraction. The models were used to obtain the optimum process condition for the production of microporous palm shell activated carbon useful for SO2 removal. The optimized palm shell activated carbon with surface area of 973 m(2)/g, total pore volume of 0.78 cc/g and micropore fraction of 70.5% showed an excellent agreement with the amount predicted by the statistical analysis. Palm shell activated carbon with higher surface area and microporosity fraction showed good adsorption affinity for SO2 removal.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical Engineering, Engineering Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 14300 Nibong Tebal, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sumathi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bhatia
authors.forename: K T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Mohamed
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D028023:Arecaceae / Q000378:metabolism*; D002606:Charcoal / Q000378:metabolism*; D005740:Gases / Q000378:metabolism*; D015233:Models, Statistical; D016062:Porosity; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012996:Solutions; D013455:Sulfur / Q000378:metabolism*; D013499:Surface Properties; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D005740:Gases; D012996:Solutions; D002606:Charcoal; D013455:Sulfur